"We can unite our voices in expressing hope that the international community may make new, concerted and courageous efforts against the proliferation of weapons and to promote their reduction," said the pontiff.

Japan became the 32nd country to join the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) aimed at regulating the global flow of conventional arms, for which both the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches are campaigning.

Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa presented the instrument of ratification at United Nations headquarters in New York in the presence of U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane.

Kane welcomed Japan's entry into the treaty, which requires the participation of 50 countries, expressing hope that it will encourage more U.N. members to ratify it so that it can take effect, The Japan Times newspaper reported.

"Monitoring the flow of conventional arms will have a major significance in deterring insurgencies and conflicts as much as possible in the world and thereby limiting damage," Yoshikawa told reporters.

The treaty bans States from engaging in the export, import, transit and brokering of tanks, attack helicopters, combat aircraft, warships, missiles and small and light weapons if there are risks that they might be used to commit terrorism or attacks against civilians.

France, Germany and Britain have signed the treaty, but China, Russia and the United States have not.